Sunday 17 August 2008

Hello everyone.

This week Peter has developed what looks like an infection in the lungs as he was bringing up greenish/yellow phlegm for a few days and sounded like a middle eastern bubble pipe when he lay down. He has started on antibiotics and even after 2 and 1/2 days, it seems to be clearing a little and he is starting to respond well to it - less coughing and less of the green phlegm.

Peter has also been doing some of the exercises the physiotherapist provided us and I think that he is starting to have a little increase in his capacity and also is slightly less unsteady on his feet within the past couple of days. We do the exercises together and when the weather is sunny, mild and still, he will walk up and down the driveway for a few minutes.

Also yesterday, he sat up in the recliner chair in the family room for the majority of the day and we watched some of the Olympic telecasts together. I think this was good as he seemed to sleep better in the evening and also said he felt less isolated as I was buzzing around doing the washing and other things but he was in the main living area while I was doing it. I am not sure whether he will need to rest for most of today as a result but at least he was out of bed.

This coming week we have the occupational therapist coming to see about getting grab rails installed in the bathrooms and toilet areas as Peter feels very unsteady a lot of the time and there's not much to grab onto. Naturally, we don't want him to have a fall in the wet areas as it would not only physically hurt him but shake his confidence again.

I am also attempting to organise a CT scan this week and blood tests but the Medical Imaging department of The Canberra Hospital lost the referral I dropped into them last Tuesday and so I am still waiting for contact about that.

Apart from those we will have the regular twice weekly visit from the palliative care nurse and the GP visit and I hope to be able to get a couple of hours off on Tuesday afternoon.

Nothing much else to report except spring must be coming as the apricot tree is starting to get some buds and flowers, so I am hopeful of another plentiful harvest at Christmas time for some more jam and stewed apricots.

Thanks for your ongoing interest and concern for both of us. Best wishes - Leanne